How to pronounce fuel
Say it like FYOO-ul. Fuel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fuel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FYOO
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fuel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fuel
American and British speakers say fuel in essentially the same way: /ˈfjuəl/ in the US and /ˈfjuːəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: FYOO-ul.
What does fuel mean?
- a substance that can be consumed to produce energy“more fuel is needed during the winter months”“they developed alternative fuels for aircraft”
- provide with a combustible substance that provides energy“fuel aircraft, ships, and cars”
- provide with fuel“Oil fires the furnace”
- take in fuel, as of a ship“The tanker fueled in Bahrain”
Where does fuel come from?
From Middle English fuayle, from Old French fouaille, feuaille (“firewood, kindling”), from feu (“fire”), from Late Latin focus (“fire”), from Latin focus (“hearth”), whence English focus.
Words that rhyme with fuel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fuel.
Questions about saying fuel
How do you pronounce fuel?
Say FYOO-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈfjuəl/. In British English it is /ˈfjuːəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fuel?
Fuel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FYOO). Broken into parts: FYOO · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say fuel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfjuəl/ and the British form is /ˈfjuːəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.